Financial Post Editor Terence Corcoran, National Post columnist Peter Foster, National Post publisher Gordon Fisher, and journalist Kevin Libin have been found guilty of defaming renowned climate scientist Andrew Weaver in a series of articles in 2009 and 2010.
“The defamation in this case was serious. It offended Dr. Weaver’s character and the defendants refused to publish a retraction,” wrote Justice Emily Burke of the British Columbia Superior Court. The defendants were “careless or indifferent to the accuracy of the facts,” and “more interested in espousing a particular view than assessing the accuracy of the facts.”
- Concise headlines. Original content. Timely news and views from a select group of opinion leaders. Special extras.
- Everything you need, nothing you don’t.
- The Weekender: The climate news you need.
Weaver, a former IPCC lead author and now a provincial Green Party MLA, told DeSmog Blog he was “absolutely thrilled” with the ruling. “I felt I had to take this matter to court to clear my name and correct the public record,” he said. “This judgment does precisely that.”
“While I’m sure the ruling will not stop the continued assault on climate science and scientists,” said Pacific Institute President Dr. Peter Gleick, “it should certainly put people on notice that there is a responsibility to avoid such irresponsible attacks and a real cost for failing to do so.”
